WEBVTT WITH MORE REACTION IN MARYLANDWE GO TO I-TEAM LEADINVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JAYNEMILLER.SHE'S LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM.JAYNE:rt ATTORNEY GENERAL BRIANFROSH, A DEMOCRAT, CALLED THETRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DACADECISION A QUOTE, A SHAMEFULATTACK ON DREAMERS.HE STOPPED SHORT OF SAYING HEWILL FILE SUIT.REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR LARRY HOGANJOINED THE CHORUS OF BUSINESSLEADERS AND OTHERS TO PUSHCONGRESS TO ACT.rtIN A STATEMENT, THE GOVERNORSAID INSTEAD OF TARGETINGINNOCENT KIDS WE SHOULD BE, TARGETING CRIMINALS.TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MAKES ONErtTHING VERY CLEAR CONGRESS HAS TOACT.OUR COUNTRY NEEDS COMPREHENSIVIMMIGRATION REFORM AND THEY MUSTGET TO WORK ON A LEGISLATIVESOLUTION TO FIX BOTH THISIMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM PROBLEM.rtTHE GOVERNOR SAID.IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT,DREAMERS WOULD EVENTrtUALLY LOTHE PROTECTION DACA OFFERS.THEYrt WOULD RETURN TO STATUS ASILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH NOSPECIAL PROTECTION TO WORK OR GOTO SCHOOL.THERE ARE NEARLY 10,000 DREAMERSIN MARYLAND.THE ACLU IN MARYLAND SAYS IT ISNOT CLEAR HOW THE WINDING DOWNOF DACA WILL BE ENFORCED.rtCOULD DREAMERS SUE, WE ASKED>> I THINK THE STRONGEST LEGALrtGROUNDS WILL COME WHINDIVIDUAL DACA RECIPIENTS WHAVE BEEN PROMISED AND THE TRUMPADMINISTRATIrtON HAS PROMISED THWON'T TARGET THESE PEOPLE FOR ATrtLEAST THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.IF THEY DO IN FACT STARTTARGETING THEM THEY DO HAVE ALEGAL RECOURSE IN IMMIGRATIONCOURT AND ALSO THROUGH OTHERLEGAL MEANS SUCH AS THEADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.rtJAYNE: MARYLAND'S LONEREPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESSCHEERED THE TRUMPrtADMINISTRATION'S DECISION,SAYING,THE OBAMA-ERA POLICY IS A GROSSOVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE POWER ANDUNDERMINED THE AUTHORITY OF THLEGISLATIVE BRANCH.rtPRESIDENT TRUMP IS RETURNINGTHAT POWER TO CONGRESS.HARRIS SAID HE SEES IMMIGRATIONREFORM, AND BUILDING A WALL rtTHE MEXICAN BORDER AS TWOSEPARATE ISSUES.ALSO, MAYOR CATHERINE PUGH URGEDCONGRESS TO ACT, SAYINGBALTIMORE STANDS WITH THETHOUSANDS OF DREAMERS WHO LIVE

Maryland's Congressional delegation weighed in on the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday morning announced that DACA "is being rescinded."Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump's decision to end DACA inexplicably upends American values by ripping apart families of 800,000 DREAMers.He issued the following statement in response to Tuesday's announcement:"America is a compassionate and diverse country that values hard work and community. The Trump Administration’s order to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program inexplicably upends these American values and will rip apart the lives of 800,000 individuals -- DREAMers -- who for the most part have known no other home but the USA. Clearly written with little thought of the human consequences, this latest action by the Trump Administration will harm our economic and national security. It will break families and drive many underground, out of work and into poverty. America has invested in DREAMers by educating them in our schools and integrating them into our communities. Let’s not squander these resources by deporting the next generation of teachers, doctors, engineers and small business owners who can contribute so much to our economy, communities and society. Families should not be ripped apart to abide by irrelevant political rhetoric. Just this past week in Maryland, I met with DREAMers and their family members to hear their incredibly powerful stories of courage and, most recently, fear of what actions this president and his administration may take next. These are real people and real families that will be hurt by the actions taken by the Trump Administration today. "There are Democrats and Republicans who want to protect the DREAMers. Congress should immediately take up legislation to restore the DACA program and reject funding to implement President's Trump mass deportation agenda and border wall. In the longer term, Congress should once again take up and pass bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system, just as the Senate has done previously. Congress must act. We can no longer trust the executive branch to do what is right for our country when it comes to immigration."Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said, "We cannot let the Trump administration get away with tearing apart innocent families and wreaking havoc on our economy in Maryland."Van Hollen issued the following statement:"Today I think about Jorge Steven Acuña’s story. In 2001, when Steven was just 8 years old, his family came to the United States after his mother began receiving death threats. For nearly 16 years since arriving from Colombia, Steven and his family have lived and worked in this country as productive, law-abiding citizens. But in 2012, having been denied the political asylum they sought in America, they were yanked from their Germantown home and locked up in a detention center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore."The Acuña family reached out to my Congressional office and we joined forces with advocacy organizations, immigration lawyers, and local leaders to make sure they stayed where they belonged – right here in Maryland. And thanks to the DACA program, Steven just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland and aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon."The Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the DACA program is taking our country backwards. Over its five-year history, DACA has helped nearly 800,000 young people pursue higher education and grow our economy. Ending this program will cost our economy over $460.3 billion over ten years and displace over 685,000 workers vital to businesses in Maryland and across the nation."It's important to go after gangs like MS-13, but it is an insult to decency and common sense for DREAMers, like Steven, to be targeted for deportation. At its core, America exists because people seeking freedom worked hard to build a better life. DREAMers today deserve that same chance. They came out of the shadows because of their desire to get an education and contribute to our country, and in turn, our government promised to protect them. It would go against the nation’s founding ideals to break that promise. We cannot let the Trump Administration get away with tearing apart innocent families and wreaking havoc on our economy in Maryland."Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, released a statement, saying this should not be the priority of enforcement efforts."As Governor Hogan has consistently said, securing our borders must be a top priority, it’s an important issue of public safety and national security."However, focusing immigration efforts on children and young people, many of whom have never known another home and came to this country by no fault of their own, should not be where enforcement efforts are concentrated. Instead of targeting innocent kids, we should be targeting criminals. "Today’s announcement makes one thing very clear – Congress has to act. Our country needs comprehensive immigration reform and they must get to work on a legislative solution to fix both this immediate and long-term problem."Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh released a statement, saying that there are about 10,000 current DACA recipients working and going to school in Maryland. The statement said ending the program would constitute a $509.4 million loss in the state of Maryland's annual GDP.“President Trump’s action to end DACA today is a shameful attack on 800,000 young people who have grown up in this country and are making important contributions to our economy, and to our educational and civic institutions. Most recently, many have taken heroic actions as first responders in the recent devastating floods in Texas and are poised to help rebuild the state. Ending this program will break families apart, deprive thousands of the work opportunities and education that will help them support themselves and their families, and rob employers of a diverse and committed work force. Our country has already invested in these DREAMers – the next generation of teachers, skilled workers, and business owners – and we must find a way to continue that commitment. Turning our backs on them is the wrong choice. My office is evaluating all potential options to protect these DREAMers and their families.”Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh released a statement, saying:"I am very disappointed by the Administration’s decision to rescind DACA. Our hardworking dreamers are teachers, lawyers, nurses, business owners, community organizers, and overall contributors to our country and city. Many of these young people know the United States as their only home. The decision on DACA threatens to separate thousands of young professionals and students from their home while hurting our country’s economy. I urge Congress to act quickly and pass legislation that would provide a permanent solution for DACA recipients. Baltimore stands with the thousands of Dreamers and their families who live and work in our city."Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Harris, R-District 1, offered support of the decision to end the policy:"I strongly support President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The Obama-era policy is a gross overreach of executive power and undermined the authority of the legislative branch. President Trump is returning that power to Congress."

BALTIMORE —

Maryland's Congressional delegation weighed in on the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump's decision to end DACA inexplicably upends American values by ripping apart families of 800,000 DREAMers.

He issued the following statement in response to Tuesday's announcement:

"America is a compassionate and diverse country that values hard work and community. The Trump Administration’s order to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program inexplicably upends these American values and will rip apart the lives of 800,000 individuals -- DREAMers -- who for the most part have known no other home but the USA. Clearly written with little thought of the human consequences, this latest action by the Trump Administration will harm our economic and national security. It will break families and drive many underground, out of work and into poverty. America has invested in DREAMers by educating them in our schools and integrating them into our communities. Let’s not squander these resources by deporting the next generation of teachers, doctors, engineers and small business owners who can contribute so much to our economy, communities and society. Families should not be ripped apart to abide by irrelevant political rhetoric. Just this past week in Maryland, I met with DREAMers and their family members to hear their incredibly powerful stories of courage and, most recently, fear of what actions this president and his administration may take next. These are real people and real families that will be hurt by the actions taken by the Trump Administration today.

"There are Democrats and Republicans who want to protect the DREAMers. Congress should immediately take up legislation to restore the DACA program and reject funding to implement President's Trump mass deportation agenda and border wall. In the longer term, Congress should once again take up and pass bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system, just as the Senate has done previously. Congress must act. We can no longer trust the executive branch to do what is right for our country when it comes to immigration."

"Today I think about Jorge Steven Acuña’s story. In 2001, when Steven was just 8 years old, his family came to the United States after his mother began receiving death threats. For nearly 16 years since arriving from Colombia, Steven and his family have lived and worked in this country as productive, law-abiding citizens. But in 2012, having been denied the political asylum they sought in America, they were yanked from their Germantown home and locked up in a detention center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

"The Acuña family reached out to my Congressional office and we joined forces with advocacy organizations, immigration lawyers, and local leaders to make sure they stayed where they belonged – right here in Maryland. And thanks to the DACA program, Steven just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland and aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon.

"The Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the DACA program is taking our country backwards. Over its five-year history, DACA has helped nearly 800,000 young people pursue higher education and grow our economy. Ending this program will cost our economy over $460.3 billion over ten years and displace over 685,000 workers vital to businesses in Maryland and across the nation.

"It's important to go after gangs like MS-13, but it is an insult to decency and common sense for DREAMers, like Steven, to be targeted for deportation. At its core, America exists because people seeking freedom worked hard to build a better life. DREAMers today deserve that same chance. They came out of the shadows because of their desire to get an education and contribute to our country, and in turn, our government promised to protect them. It would go against the nation’s founding ideals to break that promise. We cannot let the Trump Administration get away with tearing apart innocent families and wreaking havoc on our economy in Maryland."

Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, released a statement, saying this should not be the priority of enforcement efforts.

"As Governor Hogan has consistently said, securing our borders must be a top priority, it’s an important issue of public safety and national security.

"However, focusing immigration efforts on children and young people, many of whom have never known another home and came to this country by no fault of their own, should not be where enforcement efforts are concentrated. Instead of targeting innocent kids, we should be targeting criminals.

"Today’s announcement makes one thing very clear – Congress has to act. Our country needs comprehensive immigration reform and they must get to work on a legislative solution to fix both this immediate and long-term problem."

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh released a statement, saying that there are about 10,000 current DACA recipients working and going to school in Maryland. The statement said ending the program would constitute a $509.4 million loss in the state of Maryland's annual GDP.

“President Trump’s action to end DACA today is a shameful attack on 800,000 young people who have grown up in this country and are making important contributions to our economy, and to our educational and civic institutions. Most recently, many have taken heroic actions as first responders in the recent devastating floods in Texas and are poised to help rebuild the state. Ending this program will break families apart, deprive thousands of the work opportunities and education that will help them support themselves and their families, and rob employers of a diverse and committed work force.

Our country has already invested in these DREAMers – the next generation of teachers, skilled workers, and business owners – and we must find a way to continue that commitment. Turning our backs on them is the wrong choice.

My office is evaluating all potential options to protect these DREAMers and their families.”

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh released a statement, saying:

"I am very disappointed by the Administration’s decision to rescind DACA. Our hardworking dreamers are teachers, lawyers, nurses, business owners, community organizers, and overall contributors to our country and city. Many of these young people know the United States as their only home. The decision on DACA threatens to separate thousands of young professionals and students from their home while hurting our country’s economy. I urge Congress to act quickly and pass legislation that would provide a permanent solution for DACA recipients. Baltimore stands with the thousands of Dreamers and their families who live and work in our city."

Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Harris, R-District 1, offered support of the decision to end the policy:

"I strongly support President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The Obama-era policy is a gross overreach of executive power and undermined the authority of the legislative branch. President Trump is returning that power to Congress."